Mounting system

Abstract

A mounting system comprises an elastomeric mount portion including: a barrel having a first bore formed therein and a rim at a first end of the barrel that forms a first interface surface, and a pair of mounting arms that project outward from a second end of the barrel that collectively form an arc that defines a curved mounting surface for mounting a first object. A channel is formed in the pair of mounting arms or the barrel that passes through the elastomeric mount portion. The mounting system further includes a fastener for securing the elastomeric mount portion to a second object. The fastener includes a shaft that passes through the first bore along the longitudinal axis and projects outward from the first interface surface of the barrel. The mounting system further includes a strap that passes through the channel to secure the first object to the curved mounting surface.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A mounting system, comprising:
 an elastomeric mount portion including:
 a barrel having a first bore formed therein along a longitudinal axis of the barrel and a rim at a first end of the barrel that forms a first interface surface, and 
 a pair of mounting arms that project outward from a second end of the barrel that collectively form an arc that defines a curved mounting surface along an interior of the arc for mounting a first object, 
 wherein a channel is formed in the pair of mounting arms or the barrel that passes through the elastomeric mount portion; 
 
 a fastener for securing the elastomeric mount portion to a second object, the fastener including a shaft that passes through the first bore along the longitudinal axis and projects outward from the first interface surface of the barrel; and 
 a strap that passes through the channel to secure the first object to the curved mounting surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the barrel of the elastomeric mount portion includes a narrowing region of the first bore that forms an opposing surface to the first interface surface of the barrel; and
 wherein the fastener further includes a first flanged portion that interfaces with the opposing surface of the barrel to oppose withdraw of the fastener through the first bore at the first end of the barrel. 
 
     
     
       3. The mounting system of  claim 2 , further comprising the second object, wherein the second object includes a body portion having a second interface surface that is sized to at least accommodate the first interface surface of the barrel and an opening formed within the second interface surface to receive the shaft of the fastener. 
     
     
       4. The mounting system of  claim 3 , wherein the shaft of the fastener is a threaded shaft; and
 wherein the opening formed in the body portion of the second object is a threaded opening that corresponds to the threaded shaft. 
 
     
     
       5. The mounting system of  claim 3 , wherein a second flanged portion of the fastener interfaces with an opposite side of the body portion from the second interface surface to secure the second interface surface of the second object to the first interface surface of the elastomeric mount portion. 
     
     
       6. The mounting system of  claim 5 , wherein the fastener includes a bolt and wherein the shaft is a threaded shaft; and
 wherein the first flanged portion includes one of a head of the bolt or a threaded nut, and the second flanged portion includes the other of the head of the bolt or the threaded nut. 
 
     
     
       7. The mounting system of  claim 5 , wherein the fastener includes a rivet and wherein the shaft is a post of the rivet; and
 wherein the first flanged portion includes one of a head or a tail of the rivet, and the second flanged portion includes the other of the head or the tail of the rivet. 
 
     
     
       8. The mounting system of  claim 7 , wherein the shaft of the rivet is sized to compress the barrel onto the body portion of the second object within a predefined range of compression force. 
     
     
       9. The mounting system of  claim 3 , wherein the elastomeric mount portion is secured to the second object by the fastener compressing the barrel of the first elastomeric mount portion onto the body portion of the second object along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       10. The mounting system of  claim 3 , wherein the second object further includes an accessory selected from the group comprising:
 a bottle cage; a mobile computing device mount; a lighting device; a camera mount. 
 
     
     
       11. The mounting system of  claim 3 , wherein the first interface surface and the second interface surface are each substantially planar. 
     
     
       12. The mounting system of  claim 3 , wherein the body portion of the second object is formed from a non-elastomeric material. 
     
     
       13. The mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric mount portion is rotatable relative to the second object about the shaft of the fastener. 
     
     
       14. The mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft of the fastener is a non-elastomeric shaft. 
     
     
       15. The mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the channel passes through a base of the pair of mounting arms along an orthogonal axis to the longitudinal axis of the barrel. 
     
     
       16. The mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the strap includes at least one of:
 hook and loop fasteners along respective portions of the strap to secure the strap around the first object; 
 a releasable clip having two clip portions at respective positions along the strap to secure the strap around the first object; 
 a buckle to secure the strap around the first object. 
 
     
     
       17. The mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of mounting arms each form a tapering arc that tapers from a base of that mounting arm that joins with the barrel to a distal end of that mounting arm. 
     
     
       18. The mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric mount portion is formed from or includes silicone rubber. 
     
     
       19. The mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric mount portion is formed from a unitary piece of elastomeric material. 
     
     
       20. The mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the first flanged portion of the fastener is recessed within the curved mounting surface.